Santa Claus's tone held no reproach, only curiosity.
Will said nothing more. He simply conjured his Patronus.
Santa Claus set his thick, bright-red gift sack aside. "You're very unusual... Oh, so cold. You don't want to learn from Krampus, do you, child? He's hardly a good example."
Will drew a deep breath of cold air, ended the Patronus Charm, and forced himself to calm down. This was his second encounter with a legendary being. He was no longer quite so shocked.
Besides, Santa Claus seemed fairly kind. Will should at least talk to him first.
"I need to learn your magic, Mr. Saint Nicholas," Will said bluntly. "Joy Magic. Not a legend or a fairy tale, but real magic that can gather and use joyful emotions, like what you used against Krampus."
Santa Claus narrowed his blue eyes and studied Will. His gaze seemed to pierce flesh and look straight into the soul.
"Child, first I need to correct a few little mistakes."
"My mistakes?"
"Yes." Santa Claus waved a hand. A gingerbread house flew out of his red gift sack, grew in midair, and landed as a full-sized house. Light shone from inside, and a delicious aroma drifted out. He went in first. "Come inside and talk. It's never good to stay out in the cold on Christmas."
Without much hesitation, Will entered. Two gingerbread chairs stood beside a gingerbread fireplace, and even its flames gave off a sweet aroma. Will felt his emotions recovering rapidly. Ordinarily, overusing the Patronus Charm left him needing more than a week to recover, but after only a few seconds here, he was already beginning to feel normal.
He sat opposite Santa Claus. Santa Claus waved again, and two cups of hot water floated out of the gift sack. Yes, just hot water.